A key witness in a December shooting feared to be at risk of dying in the near future has prompted a Butler judge to allow the district attorney's office to record the witness' testimony.

Gage F. Carrozzi, 22, of Lyndora is being held in the Butler County Prison on $300,000 bail. He has been jailed since Dec. 17, when Butler Township police arrested him on charges that he shot his girlfriend, Jessica McFarland, 23, at a friend's apartment on Hansen Avenue.

He is accused of firing seven shots through a door while trying to force his way in as the petrified victim held the door closed.

One of the shots grazed the side of McFarland's stomach. She was treated for the injury at Butler Memorial Hospital and released.

But earlier this month, McFarland found herself back in the hospital, this time for leukemia, according to David Fish, a detective with Butler Township Police who testified in court on Thursday.

Fish told Judge William Shaffer that McFarland was recently cured of leukemia, but she must stay in a hospital's care for the next 30 to 40 days to see if the leukemia will reappear. And even if it doesn't, McFarland needs a bone-marrow transplant.

“If she doesn't receive the transplant, she may die,” Fish said, relaying information he received from McFarland's medical providers.

He said she is estimated to have a 60 percent chance of surviving if she is unable to get a marrow transplant.

“Her progress is uncertain and it's possible she might die before trial,” said Assistant District Attorney Robert Zanella.

Carrozzi's public defender, Joseph Smith, said “We do not consent to this. I don't think the court can force defense to participate in deposition,” using the legal term for obtaining a testimony.

Shaffer asked about the logistics in recording the testimony of a woman who is in a hospital and unable to make a personal appearance in court.

Zanella said that Magisterial District Judge Kevin O'Donnell has allowed his courtroom to be made available for the testimony. McFarland would be on video and a stenographer would transcribe her testimony.

“So, we're going to FaceTime her?” Shaffer said.

“Exactly,” Zanella said.